Corgi US32213 P-51K Mustang USAAF 348th FG, 'Mrs.Bonnie', William Dunham, Le Shima Island, August 1945

Corgi US32213 North American P-51K Mustang USAAF 348th FG, "Mrs.Bonnie", William Dunham, Le Shima Island, August 1945, w/Nose Art Panel

During WWII, young airmen were often separated from their homes, families, and loved ones, and sought ways to personalize their aircraft to escape the harsh reality of war. This personalization became known as nose art, and included humor, slogans, nicknames, cartoons, and even depictions of girls. The Corgi Nose Art range aims to capture some of the superb works of art that adorned aircraft on all sides of the conflict. Each model includes a diecast body panel featuring the art in colorful, large-scale detail.

The North American P-51 Mustang was designed to meet the RAF's requirement for fighter-bomber and reconnaissance aircraft. It first flew on October 26th, 1940, and was a versatile aircraft capable of escorting bombers on long-range missions, engaging in dogfights, and dropping down to destroy German targets on the ground. At least eight versions of the P-51 were produced, but it was the definitive P-51D that gave the Mustang its classic warbird appearance. Both Britain and the US tested the airframe with the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, which gave the aircraft tremendous performance gains. The Truman Senate War Investigating Committee called the Mustang "the most aerodynamically perfect pursuit plane in existence."

Lt. Col. "Dinghy" Dunham scored his 16th and final kill in the closing months of the war in this P-51K. He downed a Ki-84 Kyushu on August 1, 1945.